OSCE Chairperson urges Armenia to continue reforms, build on progress towards peaceful settlement

YEREVAN, 3 July 2009 - The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, urged Armenia today to build on the positive momentum that has been achieved in the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement process and underlined the importance of ongoing democratic reforms. 

"Armenia is an important country for stability in the South Caucasus. While continuing political reforms at home, it has begun a sensitive dialogue with Turkey," she said, following a meeting with Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan.

Bakoyannis said that addressing the region's protracted conflicts is one of the top priorities of the Greek OSCE Chairmanship.

"For more than a year now, Armenia and Azerbaijan have participated constructively, at the top level, in a new round of negotiations that have inspired optimism. Talks are at a critical point," she said.

"I am encouraged by the political will expressed by both sides and the Minsk Group's commitment to bring about positive results."

During her visit Bakoyannis met President Serzh Sargsyan, Minister Nalbandyan, Hovik Abrahamyan, the Chairman of the National Assembly, Bako Sahakyan, the leader of Nagorno-Karabakh, and representatives of political parties, including Levon Ter-Petrosyan, the First President of Armenia representing the opposition Armenian National Congress.

Bakoyannis noted the co-operation between Armenia and the OSCE, in particular the OSCE Office in Yerevan, which inaugurated its new premises with the Chairperson during the visit.

"Today we inaugurate the OSCE's new offices in Yerevan. It is very important that the OSCE Office in Yerevan enjoys a high level of co-operation with Armenia," she said. "I am confident that we can deepen this co-operation. The Office is here to serve the people of Armenia and to assist them as they build an open, free and democratic society, as they lay the foundation for a stronger civil society, respectful of its past and ready to take the future into its own hands."

The OSCE Chairperson was in Baku Wednesday and Thursday for talks with Azerbaijani authorities and political parties.